Universally Accepted E30 Modifications

[ELVA164]

RX7/Corrado front brake upgrade?

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Probably not universal, since it complicates parts orders.

[GT BMW E30]

E30 M3 5lug Swap, upgraded brake lines and 318/z3 antenna upgrade. Possibly E30 M3 Speedo Cluster.

[agent]

318/z3 antenna upgrade. Possibly E30 M3 Speedo Cluster.

Those are both matters of taste. I wouldn't consider either of them universally acceptable.

[Sea Aych]

Door card cup holder?

[mr2peak]

These are acceptable E30 cup holders

[ELVA164]

I can unfortunately tell you from experience the blonde model is not 100% effective... :(

The sfgadgetguy cupholder should be universal, though, especially installed in that dumb useless center console tray:

[mr2peak]

Bumping this. I've been using this as a guide for my M Technic resto, it's helped me with a few decisions.

Are chips an OK thing? I really want to build a 2.8 m20 with a 272 or similar cam as well...

[Kershaw]

I don't agree with cupholders. The gearswitch units are the nicest imo, but my elbow goes there. I wouldn't use them.

[djjerme]

I don't agree with cupholders. The gearswitch units are the nicest imo, but my elbow goes there. I wouldn't use them.

I would agree with this as well. Cup holders are not a necessity to me in a car.

Would also added updated brake pads
upgraded caliper bushings
Stainless steel brake lines (reliability/pedal feel)
upgraded fluids in the tranny/diff.

Luckily, we haven't hit the point in E30's where matching numbers is absolutely paramount to a cars value, but it's still not a bad idea to keep original parts to the car around so that if you do sell it, you can include them..

[15Michaeljoseph]

I would agree with this as well. Cup holders are not a necessity to me in a car.

Would also added updated brake pads
upgraded caliper bushings
Stainless steel brake lines (reliability/pedal feel)
upgraded fluids in the tranny/diff.

Luckily, we haven't hit the point in E30's where matching numbers is absolutely paramount to a cars value, but it's still not a bad idea to keep original parts to the car around so that if you do sell it, you can include them..

Agree with keeping parts. Essentially if it says 'made in W. Germany' on it and isn't something huge and annoying like a radiator or something, I keep it.

In the spring I hope to do some brake work on my daily. My rotors are tapped out for sure, planning on getting a nice cheap blank and pairing it with a decent hawk pad... Did all the lines in the rear, including the hard lines (copper nickel... That's a longevity 'mod'), but I think I ought to replace the front softs soon too. Just went stock rubber. They lasted for 25+ years as it is, and are BMW and DOT approved ;)


A good 'mod' is to buy a power bleeder for brakes. It is actually insane the difference in the pedal feel aftet bleeding my brakes with a power bleeder vs the old "assistant pumping the pedal" method.

Diff fluid is right up there with PS fluid for neglected maintenance. I believe BMW specifies 50k for the diff fluid... And man judging by the color of what came out of my 120k car, I'd doubt if it was ever done. Mobil-1 synthetic 75w90LS gear oil for my LSD.

Power steering fluid is easy as well. 2 quarts (more like 1.5) of castrol Dex 3/Mercron and you are good to go.



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[ahrensNW]

[QUOTE=ELVA164;4342820]I can unfortunately tell you from experience the blonde model is not 100% effective... :(QUOTE]

Maybe at holding coffee, but she really knows how to handle a knob lol

[jasonbk]

upgraded caliper bushings
Stainless steel brake lines (reliability/pedal feel)
upgraded fluids in the tranny/diff.

I wonder how much these would improve brake pedal feel. I think E30s have too much pedal travel before the brake really starts to grab - compared to modern BMW/MINI.

[ELVA164]

[quote=ahrensNW;4555817]

I can unfortunately tell you from experience the blonde model is not 100% effective... :(QUOTE]

Maybe at holding coffee, but she really knows how to handle a knob lol

;D


I've tried "upgraded" pad compounds on my daily and they are decidedly NOT universally acceptable. OEM compound (or maybe the Pagid-type OEM upgrade?) are all I'll be putting in my car from now on. The other pads had reduced cold stop performance and they warped my new rotors. I'd love to really know if there's a difference between new OEM brake hoses and DOT stainless ones performance-wise...I have a brake overhaul looming and want to get the good stuff in all respects.

[bertomanfred]

I would love to see the Hakosuka GTR spoiler on an e30

[bertomanfred]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjh06nO0qnKAhVBNz4KHexTD60QjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fseanklingelhoefer%2F4385525049&psig=AFQjCNHLAEAMzY0ig8hEH5NSdRzZJT8u1A&ust=1452872648442334